Kigali — Residents of Umulimo village in Kigarama , Gikondo last Saturday were urged to adopt new farming skills in order to fight poverty and improve on their health.

This was during a meeting after the community service exercise known as 'Umuganda' which takes place every last Saturday of the month.

As part of the goals set by the government to be achieved by the year 2012, the kitchen garden (with the use of sacs) is an angle that the government is using to help Rwandans eradicate poverty by stamping out malnutrition.

"This was the initiative of our village and as part of our performance contract; the kitchen garden is a project that we introduced in our community as a way of helping poor people with no jobs and resources who are living on a day by day income," said Alain Numa, the coordinator in charge of development.

Residents of Umulimo village and surrounding villages, in partnership with Urwibutso Enterprise, a company that makes the popular Agashya juice made from passion fruits, were educated on how to set up kitchen gardens.

"Learning how to make a kitchen garden will enable people to grow their own vegetables. In this way they can eat fresh foods with plenty of vitamins and eventually the problem of malnutrition will be eliminated," said Jean Bosco Nzakizwanimana, a facilitator from Urwibutso.

The cell coordinator Jean Marie Nkundayesu further emphasized the need for every person having a kitchen garden.

"Every person who is interested in having good health will adopt the kitchen garden technique. Even those who live in the city can also benefit from this project since the sack garden is convenient and does not occupy much space," he said, amidst much amazement by the residents.

The Sector's Executive Secretary Bosco Kaboyi, took the opportunity to thank those who participated in the recently concluded Parliamentary elections.

He advised residents to make time and apply the new technique and build these gardens for the good of their own health, and also addressed issues concerning their welfare.